Marine killed in crash is Fla. man

The Marine killed after two U.S. war planes collided off the coast of Japan was identified Friday, while rescue workers continued their search for five crew members still missing after the deadly crash.

The Marine Corps in a statement confirmed that Capt. James Resilard, 28, of Miramar, Fla., died in the midair collision, the latest incident involving members of the United States military deployed to and near Japan. He was a F/ A-18 pilot with the Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242, a crew widely known as the “Bats,” and was stationed on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi when he lost his life on Thursday.

“The Bats are deeply saddened by the loss of Captain Jahmar Resilard (photo). He was an effective and dedicated leader who cared for his Marines and fellow fighter pilots with a passion,” Lt. Col. James Compton said in a statement.

The encounter unfolded after 1:40 a.m. Thursday when a KC-130 refueling aircraft carrying five crew members and an F/A-18 jet with two people aboard “came in contact” and crashed into the sea about 200 miles off Japan.

Two Marines were initially rescued alive, but Resilard was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The surviving Marine was in stable condition Friday; the other crew members remain missing.